Contents

  1. About this edition
  2. Preamble
  3. Chapter 1: Founding provisions (sections 1–6)
    1. 1. Republic of South Africa
    2. 2. Supremacy of Constitution
    3. 3. Citizenship
    4. 4. National anthem
    5. 5. National flag
    6. 6. Languages
  4. Chapter 2: Bill of rights (sections 7–39)
    1. 7. Rights
    2. 8. Application
    3. 9. Equality
    4. 10. Human dignity
    5. 11. Life
    6. 12. Freedom and security of the person 
    7. 13. Slavery, servitude and forced labour 
    8. 14. Privacy
    9. 15. Freedom of religion, belief and opinion
    10. 16. Freedom of expression
    11. 17. Assembly, demonstration, picket and petition
    12. 18. Freedom of association
    13. 19. Political rights
    14. 20. Citizenship
    15. 21. Freedom of movement and residence
    16. 22. Freedom of trade, occupation and profession
    17. 23. Labour relations
    18. 24. Environment
    19. 25. Property
    20. 26. Housing
    21. 27. Health care, food, water and social security
    22. 28. Children
    23. 29. Education
    24. 30. Language and culture
    25. 31. Cultural, religious and linguistic communities
    26. 32. Access to information
    27. 33. Just administrative action
    28. 34. Access to courts
    29. 35. Arrested, detained and accused persons
    30. 36. Limitation of rights
    31. 37. States of emergency
    32. 38. Enforcement of rights
    33. 39. Interpretation of Bill of Rights
  5. Chapter 3: Co-operative government (ss 40–41)
    1. 40. Government of the Republic
    2. 41. Principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations
  6. Chapter 4: Parliament (ss 42–82)
    1. 42. Composition of Parliament
    2. 43. Legislative authority of the Republic
    3. 44. National legislative authority
    4. 45. Joint rules and orders and joint committees
    5. The National Assembly
      1. 46. Composition and election
      2. 47. Membership
      3. 48. Oath or affirmation
      4. 49. Duration of National Assembly
      5. 50. Dissolution of National Assembly before expiry of its term
      6. 51. Sittings and recess periods
      7. 53. Speaker and Deputy Speaker
      8. 53. Decisions
      9. 54. Rights of certain Cabinet members and Deputy Ministers in the National Assembly
      10. 55. Powers of National Assembly
      11. 56. Evidence or information before National Assembly
      12. 57. Internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures of National Assembly
      13. 58. Privilege
      14. 59. Public access to and involvement in National Assembly
    6. National Council of Provinces
      1. 60. Composition of National Council
      2. 61. Allocation of delegates
      3. 62. Permanent delegates
      4. 63. Sittings of National Council
      5. 64. Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons
      6. 65. Decisions
      7. 66. Participation by members of national executive
      8. 67. Participation by local government representatives
      9. 68. Powers of National Council
      10. 69. Evidence or information before National Council
      11. 70. Internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures of National Council
      12. 71. Privilege
      13. 72. Public access to and involvement in National Council
    7. National Legislative Process
      1. 73. All Bills
      2. 74. Bills amending the Constitution
      3. 75. Ordinary Bills not affecting provinces
      4. 76. Ordinary Bills affecting provinces
      5. 77. Money Bills
      6. 78. Mediation Committee
      7. 79. Assent to Bills
      8. 80. Application by members of National Assembly to Constitutional Court
      9. 81. Publication of Acts
      10. 82. Safekeeping of Acts of Parliament
  7. Chapter 5: The President and National Executive (ss 83–102)
    1. 83. The President
      1. 84. Powers and functions of President
    2. 85. Executive authority of the Republic
    3. 86. Election of President
    4. 87. Assumption of office by President
    5. 88. Term of office of President
    6. 89. Removal of President
    7. 90. Acting President
    8. 91. Cabinet
    9. 92. Accountability and responsibilities
    10. 93. Deputy Ministers
    11. 94. Continuation of Cabinet after elections
    12. 95 Oath or affirmation
    13. 96. Conduct of Cabinet members and Deputy Ministers
    14. 97. Transfer of functions
    15. 98. Temporary assignment of functions
    16. 99. Assignment of functions
    17. 100. National intervention in provincial administration
    18. 101. Executive decisions
    19. 102. Motions of no confidence
  8. Chapter 6: Provinces (ss 103–150)
    1. 103. Provinces
    2. Provincial Legislatures
      1. 104. Legislative authority of provinces
      2. 105. Composition and election of provincial legislatures
      3. 106. Membership
      4. 107. Oath or affirmation
      5. 108. Duration of provincial legislatures
      6. 109. Dissolution of provincial legislatures before expiry of term
      7. 110. Sittings and recess periods
      8. 111. Speakers and Deputy Speakers
      9. 112. Decisions
      10. 113. Permanent delegates’ rights in provincial legislatures
      11. 114. Powers of provincial legislatures
      12. 115. Evidence or information before provincial legislatures
      13. 116. Internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures of provincial legislatures
      14. 117. Privilege
      15. 118. Public access to and involvement in provincial legislatures
      16. 119. Introduction of Bills
      17. 120. Money Bills
      18. 121. Assent to Bills
      19. 122. Application by members to Constitutional Court
      20. 123. Publication of provincial Acts
      21. 124. Safekeeping of provincial Acts
    3. Provincial Executives
      1. 125. Executive authority of provinces
      2. 126. Assignment of functions
      3. 127. Powers and functions of Premiers
      4. 128. Election of Premiers
      5. 129. Assumption of office by Premiers
      6. 130. Term of office and removal of Premiers
      7. 131. Acting Premiers
      8. 132. Executive Councils
      9. 133. Accountability and responsibilities
      10. 134. Continuation of Executive Councils after elections
      11. 135. Oath or affirmation
      12. 136. Conduct of members of Executive Councils
      13. 137. Transfer of functions
      14. 138. Temporary assignment of functions
      15. 139. Provincial intervention in local government
      16. 140. Executive decisions
      17. 141. Motions of no confidence
    4. Provincial Constitutions
      1. 142. Adoption of provincial constitutions
      2. 143. Contents of provincial constitutions
      3. 144. Certification of provincial constitutions
      4. 145. Signing, publication and safekeeping of provincial constitutions
    5. Conflicting Laws
      1. Conflicts between national and provincial legislation
      2. 147. Other conflicts
      3. 148. Conflicts that cannot be resolved
      4. 149. Status of legislation that does not prevail
      5. 150. Interpretation of conflicts
  9. Chapter 7: Local Government (ss 151–164)
    1. 151. Status of municipalities
    2. 152. Objects of local government
    3. 153. Developmental duties of municipalities
    4. 154. Municipalities in co-operative government
    5. 155. Establishment of municipalities
    6. 156. Powers and functions of municipalities
    7. 157. Composition and election of Municipal Councils
    8. 158. Membership of Municipal Councils
    9. 159. Terms of Municipal Councils
    10. 160. Internal procedures
    11. 161. Privilege
    12. 162. Publication of municipal by-laws
    13. 163. Organised local government
    14. 164. Other matters
  10. Chapter 8: Courts and Administration of Justice (ss 165–180)
    1. 165. Judicial authority
    2. 166. Judicial system
    3. 167. Constitutional Court
    4. 168. Supreme Court of Appeal
    5. 169. High Court of South Africa
    6. 170. Other courts
    7. 171. Court procedures
    8. 172. Powers of courts in constitutional matters
    9. 173. Inherent power
    10. 174. Appointment of judicial officers
    11. 175. Appointment of acting judges
    12. 176. Terms of office and remuneration
    13. 177. Removal
    14. 178. Judicial Service Commission
    15. 179. Prosecuting authority
    16. 180. Other matters concerning administration of justice
  11. Chapter 9: State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy (ss 181–194)
    1. 181. Establishment and governing principles
    2. Public Protector
      1. 182. Functions of Public Protector
      2. 183. Tenure
    3. South African Human Rights Commission
      1. 184. Functions of South African Human Rights Commission
    4. Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities
      1. 185. Functions of Commission
      2. 186. Composition of Commission
    5. Commission for Gender Equality
      1. 187. Functions of Commission for Gender Equality
    6. Auditor-General
      1. 188. Functions of Auditor-General
      2. 189. Tenure
    7. Electoral Commission
      1. 190. Functions of Electoral Commission
      2. 191. Composition of Electoral Commission
    8. Independent Authority to Regulate Broadcasting
      1. 193. Broadcasting Authority
    9. General Provisions
      1. 193. Appointments
      2. 194. Removal from office
  12. Chapter 10: Public Administration (ss 195–197)
    1. 195. Basic values and principles governing public administration
    2. 196. Public Service Commission
    3. 197. Public Service
  13. Chapter 11: Security Services (ss 198–210)
    1. 198. Governing principles
    2. 199. Establishment, structuring and conduct of security services
    3. Defence
      1. 200. Defence force
      2. 201. Political responsibility
      3. 202. Command of defence force
      4. 203. State of national defence
      5. 204. Defence civilian secretariat
    4. Police
      1. 205. Police service
      2. 206. Political responsibility
      3. 207. Control of police service
      4. 208. Police civilian secretariat
    5. Intelligence
      1. 209. Establishment and control of intelligence services
      2. 210. Powers, functions and monitoring
  14. Chapter 12: Traditional Leaders (ss 211–212)
    1. 211. Recognition
    2. 212. Role of traditional leaders
  15. Chapter 13: Finance
    1. General Financial Matters
      1. 213. National Revenue Fund
      2. 214. Equitable shares and allocations of revenue
      3. 215. National, provincial and municipal budgets
      4. 216. Treasury control
      5. 217. Procurement
      6. 218. Government guarantees
      7. 219. Remuneration of persons holding public office
    2. Financial and Fiscal Commission
      1. 220. Establishment and functions
      2. 221. Appointment and tenure of members
      3. 222. Reports
    3. Central Bank
      1. 223. Establishment
      2. 224. Primary object
      3. 225. Powers and functions
    4. Provincial and Local Financial Matters
      1. Provincial Revenue Funds
      2. 227. National sources of provincial and local government funding
      3. 228. Provincial taxes
      4. 229. Municipal fiscal powers and functions
      5. 230. Provincial loans
      6. 230A. Municipal loans
  16. Chapter 14: General Provisions
    1. International Law
      1. 231. International agreements
      2. 232. Customary international law
      3. 233. Application of international law
    2. Other Matters
      1. 234. Charters of Rights
      2. 235. Self-determination
      3. 236. Funding for political parties
      4. 237. Diligent performance of obligations
      5. 238. Agency and delegation
      6. 239. Definitions
      7. 240. Inconsistencies between different texts
      8. 241. Transitional arrangements
      9. 242. Repeal of laws
      10. 243. Short title and commencement
  17. Schedule 1: National Flag
  18. Schedule 1A: Geographical Areas of Provinces
    1. The Province of the Eastern Cape
    2. The Province of the Free State
    3. The Province of Gauteng
    4. The Province of KwaZulu-Natal
    5. The Province of Limpopo
    6. The Province of Mpumalanga
    7. The Province of the Northern Cape
    8. The Province of North West
    9. The Province of the Western Cape
  19. Schedule 2: Oaths and Solemn Affirmations
    1. 1. Oath or solemn affirmation of President and Acting President
    2. 2. Oath or solemn affirmation of Deputy President
    3. 3. Oath or solemn affirmation of Ministers and Deputy Ministers
    4. 4. Oath or solemn affirmation of members of the National Assembly, permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces and members of the provincial legislatures
    5. 5. Oath or solemn affirmation of Premiers, Acting Premiers and members of provincial Executive Councils
    6. 6. Oath or solemn affirmation of Judicial Officers
  20. Schedule 3: Election Procedures
    1. Part A: Election Procedures for Constitutional Office-Bearers
      1. 1. Application
      2. 2. Nominations
      3. 3. Formal requirements
      4. 4. Announcement of names of candidates
      5. 5. Single candidate
      6. 6. Election procedure
      7. 7. Elimination procedure
      8. 8. Further meetings
      9. 9. Rules
    2. Part B: Formula to Determine Party Participation in Provincial Delegations to the National Council of Provinces
  21. Schedule 4: Functional Areas of Concurrent National and Provincial Legislative Competence
    1. Part A
    2. Part B
  22. Schedule 5: Functional Areas of Exclusive Provincial Legislative Competence
    1. Part A
    2. Part B
  23. Schedule 6: Transitional Arrangements
    1. 1. Definitions
    2. 2. Continuation of existing law
    3. 3. Interpretation of existing legislation
    4. 4. National Assembly
    5. 5. Unfinished business before Parliament
    6. 6. Elections of National Assembly
    7. 7. National Council of Provinces
    8. 8. Former senators
    9. 9. National executive
    10. 10. Provincial legislatures
    11. 11. Elections of provincial legislatures
    12. 12. Provincial executives
    13. 13. Provincial constitutions
    14. 14. Assignment of legislation to provinces
    15. 15. Existing legislation outside Parliament’s legislative power
    16. 16. Courts
    17. 17. Cases pending before courts
    18. 18. Prosecuting authority
    19. 19. Oaths and affirmations
    20. 20. Other constitutional institutions
    21. 21. Enactment of legislation required by new Constitution
    22. 22. National unity and reconciliation
    23. 23. Bill of Rights
    24. 24. Public administration and security services
    25. 25. Additional disqualification for legislatures
    26. 26. Local government
    27. 27. Safekeeping of Acts of Parliament and Provincial Acts
    28. 28. Registration of immovable property owned by the state
  24. Schedule 6A
  25. Schedule 6B
  26. Schedule 7
  27. Annexure A: Amendments to Schedule 2 to the previous Constitution
  28. Annexure B: Government of National Unity: National Sphere
  29. Annexure C: Government of National Unity: Provincial Sphere
  30. Annexure D: Public Administration and Security Services: Amendments to Sections of the Previous Constitution